President Obama’s eulogy of Nelson Mandela was personal. moving, and provided a surprising look inside the president’s soul.

Video of President Obama’s eulogy of Nelson Mandela:

Obama got a huge ovation as he took the stage. The president told South Africa that the world thanks them for sharing the life of Nelson Mandela. He talked about eulogizing the essential truth of a man, and that this was even harder to do for a giant of history. Obama called Mandela, “The last great liberator of the 20th Century.” He compared Mandela to Ghandi and MLK. The president also compared Mandela’s political career to the Founding Fathers.

Obama said Mandela resisted the lifeless portrait of the smiling icon. The president praised Mandela for not being, “a bust made of marble.” Obama said that Mandela, “tells us what is possible not just in the pages of history books, but in our own lives as well.” The president talked about how Mandela disciplined his anger and used it to fight. President Obama said, “Mandela taught us the power of action, but he also taught us the power of ideas.”

The president talked about how Mandela was a leader of a movement, as well as a skilled politician. He described how Mandela stuck to his core principles, but also how he was concerned about South Africa being a democracy for all.

Obama said that Mandela changed laws, but he also changed hearts. The president said that he asks himself how well he applies the lessons of Mandela to his own life, as a man and as a president. The president made it clear that despite the progress that has been made our work is not done. The president talked about global poverty, and people who are imprisoned today for their political or religious beliefs. The president called out leaders who identify with Mandela’s struggle for freedom, but do not tolerate dissent from their own people.

President Obama could have been talking about himself when he said, “Nelson Mandela reminds us that it is impossible until it is done.”

The president said that Mandela makes him want to be a better man. President Obama closed by saying we will miss him deeply.

President Obama eulogy was moving, deeply personal, and it revealed a great deal about where Barack Obama draws his inspiration from. This was not just a great eulogy, but also a great speech. At many moments throughout the speech he was talking about Mandela, but he could have been talking about himself.

You can see the Mandela inspiration in the way that President Obama fights for his core values. It can be argued that the president is also the leader of a movement and a politician. There are many parallels between Mandela, the first black president of South Africa, and Obama who is America’s first black president. The president’s remarks were great. If you want to cut through the right wing BS and understand what makes President Obama tick, this speech said it all.

President Obama Provides a Peek Into His Soul During His Eulogy of Nelson Mandela was written by Jason Easley for PoliticusUSA.